Production Manager

The Company

Our client is dairy cooperative with international presence, formed by dairy farmers in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The company has a large product range including milk, yoghurts, baby and infant nutrition, cheese, butter and several locations in the Netherlands, serving global markets.

As Production Manager (5-shift system), you are responsible for the end-to-end production process during your shift. You play a key role in continuously improving performance in the areas of safety, quality, efficiency, and cost. As a strong people manager, you lead, coach, and develop your team to achieve optimal results while ensuring a safe and well-controlled production environment.

• Lead and manage a team of approximately 35 FTE, ensuring engagement, performance, and development
• Escalate disruptions and ensure the availability of the right people, materials, and resources
• Identify bottlenecks and drive continuous improvements in processes, quality, and performance together with your team
• Lead improvement initiatives and ensure effective stakeholder alignment and communication
• Act as a role model in safety, quality, and efficiency
• Take unit responsibility for technical projects, autonomous maintenance, workplace training, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Collaborate closely with operators, fellow Production Managers, and stakeholders such as Technical Services, Continuous Improvement, Quality Assurance, Planning, HR, and SHE
• Report directly to the Plant Manager and contribute as a member of the plant’s operational leadership team

• Completed HBO degree or demonstrable HBO-level working and thinking capability
• Proven and relevant experience in a managerial role within a production or manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of and experience with continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean or WCOM
• Strong people management and leadership skills
• Pragmatic and analytical mindset with the ability to maintain overview in a dynamic environment
• Decisive, communicative, and able to act as a mediator when required
• Strong focus on safety, quality, and operational excellence

Apply to our vacancy for more information. Looking forward to getting in touch!